It's quite rare when a jazz duet album between two complementary instruments is so intuitive it often sounds like the work of one player with multiple voices. Such is the case on Free Flying, a live encounter between pianist Fred Hersch and 25-year-old guitarist Julian Lage. The latter is a prodigy who first appeared on a David Grisman album at age eight, played live with Carlos Santana at nine, and by 13 had worked with everyone from Herbie Hancock and Gary Burton (he is still a member of the vibraphonist's New Quartet), as well as issuing a pair of fine solo albums for Emarcy in 2009 and 2011, establishing himself as a mature jazzman. The exercise here is counterpoint in modern harmony, and in some cases, such as on "Songs Without Words #4: Duets" and the title track, display a near classical formalism. Country gospel is the vehicle on "Down Home," while knotty modernism fuels "Beatrice" and "Stealthiness." The closer is a thoroughly reimagined, yet vastly imaginative reading of "Monk's Dream." - Tom Jurek / allmusic.com
Tracks
1. Song Without Words #4: Duet (Fred Hersch)
2. Down Home (For Bill Frisell) (Fred Hersch)
3. Heartland (For Art Lande) (Fred Hersch)
4. Free Flying (For Egberto Gismonti) (Fred Hersch)
5. Beatrice (Sam Rivers)
6. Song Without Words #3: Tango (Fred Hersch)
7. Stealthiness (For Jim Hall) (Fred Hersch)
8. Gravity's Pull (For Mary Jo Salter) (Fred Hersch)
9. Monk's Dream (Thelonious Monk)
JULIAN LAGE guitar
FRED HERSCH piano
Recorded live at Jazz At Kitano, NYC, February 2013
Palmetto Records – PM2168